Researchers at University College London have developed an antibacterial material that has proven effective in killing healthcare-associated infection-causing pathogens, according to a UCL news release.
Certain dyes are known to be harmful to bacteria when exposed to light because the light excites electrons in the dyes that eventually produce highly reactive oxygen radicals that can damage bacterial cell walls, according to Ivan Parkin, an author of the study.
Researchers deposited different combinations of dyes on silicone, which is often used in medical devices such as tubes and catheters. When introducing Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli to the silicone in higher concentrations than would be normally found in a hospital setting, all the bacteria were dead in three to six hours, according to the news release.
Furthermore, researchers found that even with the lights turned off, the samples were still effective in eliminating bacteria, although some samples took up to 18 hours to achieve significant reductions, according to the news release. Researchers said they were still unsure how the bacteria were effectively being killed in the dark.
A combination of crystal violet, methylene blue and nanogold was the most effective at killing bacteria and demonstrated the highest antimicrobial effects ever observed on the type of surface, according to the news release.
The researchers have received a patent for their development.
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